Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit,
Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, issued two letters to US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, addressing recent
legislation passed by the Knesset which bans UNRWA operations.
Gamal Roshdy, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, noted that the
letters contained a detailed warning about the severe risks associated
with undermining UNRWA's mission in the Palestinian territories. The new
legislation adopted by the occupying power, he emphasised, jeopardises
the humanitarian response framework in Gaza, where the population is on
the verge of famine.
The letter underscored that the League of Arab States has long regarded
UNRWA as a stabilising force not only within Palestine but across the
entire region. The dismantling of UNRWA, should it occur, would
represent a grievous setback for those committed to peace in the Middle
East, while the recent laws also amount to a flagrant violation of
Israel’s obligations as a UN member state, setting a dangerous precedent
on the international stage.
Roshdy added that the letter to Secretary Blinken acknowledged the
positive stance of the current US administration in reinstating its
funding for UNRWA after a hiatus.
The letters called upon both the US administration and the European
Union to act decisively to prevent the implementation of the Israeli
right’s agenda to systematically erode UNRWA, aiming ultimately to
neutralise the Palestinian refugee issue. It further stressed that
preserving UNRWA is a moral and strategic imperative.
